Got into a long debate with Mr Lang about Mujica vs Cishek and which one Ozzie favors as a replacement for Bell. Mr Lang opined that Ozzie's use of Mujica in the 8th meant that he, not cishek, was at least slightly favored. I countered that Ozzie was using cishek as the closer for his closer. Crazy like a fox that Ozzie, and Cishek has indeed saved (and won) two games for Ozzie, cleaning up bell's messes. I am now 100% certain it's Cishek over Mujica. Last nights game made it clear. He did not use Cishek in the 8th, tho Mujica was out and he was unequivocally the best available arm. He kept him warm for Bell's inevitable failure (Ozzie has been quoted saying he fully expects Bell to fail again) and the tactic paid off handsomely. This situation highlights the dangers of assuming that the 8th inning guy is the closer in waiting. Many times, the 8th inning guy IS the 8th inning guy. Now Mr Lang does not always make this assumption, but he has clung tenaciously to his argument that Mujica is the favored closing arm. MAYBE because Cishek went 3 innings last night Mujica gets the shot tonight, and if he does well, perhaps Ozzie just rolls with him. But for sure in my mind, Ozzie's moves have made it clear that Cishek is his closer and he will likely move from the closer for the closer to the closer period. Mr Lang?

It looks like I won Mr Lang. Was confident all along. Recognition would be nice. "With manager Ozzie Guillen removing Heath Bell from the team's closing duties, reliever Steve Cishek is expected to see the majority of save chances for the time being, reports the South Florida Sun Sentinel. Cishek pitched three innings of relief in Friday night's win over the Padres, earning his fourth win of the season. He is 4-0 with a 0.63 ERA over 14 1/3 innings this year."

Roger that on the crappy paper. Mujica in there now for the save. Cishek unavail after 3 innings on Friday. Worry here is that Ozzie just rolls with the guy who is getting it done ... luck and timing are the enemies of all plans.